I've Never Been to Vegas, but My Luggage Has: Mishaps and Miracles on the Road to Happily Ever After

by Hale, Mandy

  But my baggage is staying behind.

  Acknowledgments

  To my family: Dad, Mom, Cher, Kevin, Emma, Livi, and Nanny—Thank you for your unwavering support, love, prayers, and belief in me. You’ve always known my head was just a little bit more in the clouds than everyone else, and instead of trying to talk me down, you give me a boost. I would not be the woman I am without you.

  To my lifelong friend, Alli—Thank you for being my “person.” I am so blessed to have you in my life. Here’s to many more crazy adventures and dreams coming true!

  To my friend, Mastin Kipp—For believing in me, inspiring me, and yes, even challenging me—thank you.

  To Dodinsky—I don’t know where I’d be without you as my guide on this crazy journey of a writer! I know you don’t like to be called my “mentor,” so I will simply call you my friend. For a million reasons, THANK YOU. The only thing more beautiful than your message is your heart.

  To my church friends and family at both Cross Point and Oasis—I am in awe of your endless love, support, encouragement, and prayers. I could not be more blessed to walk amongst two of the greatest church bodies in the city of Nashville.

  To Jennifer Deshler—How thankful I am that you “discovered” me on that long-ago day. You took my dream and made it a reality. I am honored to call you a colleague and a friend.

  To Amanda Shanks—For creating the logo that launched a brand. Your talent and heart and creativity inspire me more than you will ever know. I could say a million thank you’s, and it still wouldn’t be enough!

  To Stephanie Yeagar—Providence crossed our paths on Twitter because we were simply meant to be friends! You are a social media genius and a master at building relationships. For everything you’ve done to help, plan, encourage, connect, promote, strategize, the list goes on and on and on—THANK YOU.

  To my entire wonderful team at Thomas Nelson: Joel Miller, Brian Hampton, Kristen Parrish, Chad Cannon, Katy Boatman, Belinda Bass, Katherine Rowley, Julie Allen, Debbie Eicholtz, Mallory Perkins, Ramona Wilkes, and Emily Lineberger, as well as videographer Caleb Rexius—Thank you for believing in me and my story. What an adventure this has been. Who knew that by NOT getting to Vegas, I would arrive at my destiny instead? You all have been the most amazing “traveling companions” on this journey that I could ask for. For not yelling at me when I missed a deadline, to honoring the book title I first dreamed up over a decade ago, to helping me fend off crazed geese while shooting promotional videos in the park—thank you. Me AND my luggage would be lost without you.

  And finally, to my 550,000+ readers and followers across the world—YOU are why I do what I do. It has been my great honor to speak into your lives over the past few years. I hope this book inspires all of you as much as you’ve inspired me . . . and reminds you that on the road to Happily Ever After, sometimes the journey is even more beautiful, colorful, and magical than the destination.

  About the Author

  Blogger turned hit author, Mandy Hale is affectionately known around the world as The Single Woman. With a heart to inspire single women to live their best lives and to never ever settle, Mandy cuts to the heart of the matter with her inspirational, straight-talking, witty, and often wildly humorous take on the life of a modern single woman.

  A contributor to Glamour.com, Mandy was also invited by Oprah in 2012 to cover her “Lifeclass: The Tour” events in St. Louis and New York City as part of OWN’s “VIP Press Corps.” That same year, she was featured at the Women of Faith conference in Hartford, Connecticut. She has been named a “Twitter Powerhouse” by the Huffington Post, a “Woman of Influence” by the Nashville Business Journal, and a “Single in the City” by Nashville Lifestyles magazine. She has been featured in Forbes, the Christian Post, the Huffington Post, as well as on the 700 Club. With more than one million readers from around the world, Mandy has made a name for herself as the voice of empowerment and sassiness for single women everywhere.

  Mandy’s first book, The Single Woman: Life, Love, & a Dash of Sass, was released in August 2013 and has gone on to garner rave reviews.

  Connect with Mandy online at:

  www.TheSingleWoman.net

  www.Twitter.com/TheSingleWoman

  www.Facebook.com/TheSingleWoman

  www.Instagram.com/TheSingleWoman